Yesterday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was "shocked and appalled" by the incident and urged the Pakistan government to "do all in its power to eradicate this barbaric practice".

Around 1,000 women are murdered every year by their families in honour killings, according to Pakistani rights group the Aurat Foundation.

The true figure is most likely even higher as often these crimes go unreported.

But even in the Muslim-majority of Pakistan many have expressed their shock and disgust at the brutal killing and public nature of the murder.

"I have not heard of any such case in which a woman was stoned to death, and the most shameful and worrying thing is that this woman was killed in front of a court," said Zia Awan, a prominent lawyer and human rights activist.

Cases of honour killings that result in a conviction can often see the killer walking free.

Pakistani law allows the victim's family to forgive their killer. But as the killer is often from the same family as their victim, they are often forgiven.